|    Login    |    Register

The Margaret Code: Meet the unforgettable detective duo in this compulsive and charming debut crime novel

(Hardback)

Available Formats


Publishing Details

Full Title:

The Margaret Code: Meet the unforgettable detective duo in this compulsive and charming debut crime novel

Contributors:

By (Author) Richard Hooton

ISBN:

9781408731048

Publisher:

Little, Brown Book Group

Imprint:

Sphere

Publication Date:

8th July 2025

UK Publication Date:

10th April 2025

Country:

United Kingdom

Classifications

Readership:

General

Fiction/Non-fiction:

Fiction

Dewey:

823.92

Physical Properties

Physical Format:

Hardback

Number of Pages:

352

Dimensions:

Width 158mm, Height 236mm, Spine 36mm

Weight:

554g

Description

MEET THE DETECTIVE DUO YOU'LL NEVER FORGET

'One of the best books I've read this year' ALEX GRAY

'Humorous and heart-breaking . . . I couldn't stop turning the page' EMILY CRITCHLEY

'Wry, compelling and ever so poignant' NAOMI KELSEY

__________

89-year-old Margaret has lived on Garnon Crescent all her life, except for those few years she never talks about. She knows all the neighbours; their hopes, their heartbreaks.

Only recently, Margaret's memory isn't what it used to be. She is sure Barbara, her best friend and neighbour, told her something important. Something she was supposed to remember.

When Barbara is found dead, Margaret determines to recover her missing memory. She and her grandson James begin to investigate, but soon strange incidents occur in her home. Margaret's daughter thinks her memory is getting worse, but Margaret knows somebody wants her out of the way.

Because Margaret holds the key to solving this crime. If only she could remember where she put it.

Reviews

One of the best books I've read this year. It has so much to say about memory loss and the terrors of having to leave one's own home. I very much hope to meet Margaret and James again! -- ALEX GRAY, author of the DSI William Lorimer series
Humorous and heartbreaking. This is a cleverly crafted mystery with an amateur detective duo you root for even against the odds. Absorbing and heartwarming, the characters are so well drawn I felt they could be my own neighbours! This is a confident and empathetic debut. I couldn't stop turning the page! -- EMILY CRITCHLEY, author of ONE PUZZLING AFTERNOON
I read this one late into the night, unable to wait to find out what happens next. Skilfully written . . . the characters are expertly drawn. A gentle crime novel, and so much more. -- BONNIE MEEKUMS, author of A KIND OF FAMILY
If you're looking for an uplifting crime novel that merges Elizabeth Is Missing with Three Things about Elsie, I highly recommend you preorder The Margaret Code. It tells the story of Margaret, whose investigation into the murder of her neighbour Barbara is complicated by her Alzheimer's, and her grandson James, who is determined to help her solve the case. Wry, compelling, and ever so poignant, it's a wonderful mystery as well as a touching portrayal of the challenges in both ageing and caring for the ageing. . -- NAOMI KELSEY, author of THE BURNINGS

Author Bio

Richard Hooton has received numerous prizes for his short fiction. The Margaret Code, his debut novel, is inspired by his relationship with his grandmother.

See all

Other titles by Richard Hooton

See all

Other titles from Little, Brown Book Group